Aero-traveler.



J H. NOLAN.

ABRO-TRAVELER.

APPLIOATION FILED 13150.29, 1909.

Patented Mar. 7, 191 1.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

VMJWM ATT'K APPLICATION TILED nnclzs', 1909.

J. H. NOLAN.

AERO-TRAVELER.

ceases.

ioniv H. NOLAN, or BOSTON, iinssncnusn'rtrs.

AERO-TBAVELER To all whom it may concern:

. Be it known that I, Join: H. NOLAN, a

l citizen of the United States, residing at Boston, in the county of Suifolk and'State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Aero-Travelers,

of which the following is a specification, referenee being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to improvements in aero travelers adapted to be propelled vertically upward, horizontally or soar like abird.

The invention also consists in the improved and novel ways of constructing the car or cage and inthe arrangement of the horizontal-flight propellers, vertical fiight propellers and the operation of the same.

The invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and combination of parts, substantially as described and par-" ticularly set forth in the claims annexed hereto, and it is carried out substantially as part of the driving mechanism. Fig. 5 is a front-elevation of a portion of the wings coi'itrolling mechanism. Fig. 6 is a plan view of the rudderrand'contiguous parts. Fig. 7 is a detail showing a portion of the spokes and Tconnectionf Fig. 8 is a detail of a shaftend-bearing.

Latitude is allowed herein as to details, as

they may be changed-or varied at will without departing from the spirit of my invention and the same yet remain intaetand be protected.

The cage portion of my apparatus is constructed of the standard 1 having the centers 2 and 3 at opposite ends thereof. The floor of the cage consists of a series of spokes 4,

I preferably of cold drawn steel tubing, which are attached to the center 2; the roof-consists of a series of similar spokes 5 attached to the center 3; the Wall of a series of similar spokes 6 which are connected by Ts 7 to the spokes of the roof and floor, and nuts or Specification of Letters Patent. I Patented Mar, 7, 1911, Application filed December 29, 1909. Serial No. 535,719.

staysS on each end of the standard 1 bind the roof and-floor together.

On the fore and aft-ends of the cage,-

which is preferably longer from front to rear than from side to side, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings, are rigidly affixed the sleeves 9 which are supported by braces 10, and a horizontal shaft 11 passes through the upper portion of the cage and through said sleeves carrying at each end horizontal-flight propellers 12, the propellers having blades, the blades of one propeller being inclined in the same direction as those of the other propeller. At the opposite ends of the cage and on opposite sides of the horizontal shaft 11 are vertical masts 13 and 14 which are rotatably mounted in the fixed sleeves 15 supported and braced as at 16 and 17 on the upper portion of the cage. These masts have a pivot pin 57 screwed into theirlower portion, which pin is rotatably pivoting in and upon a metal socket 58, which socket is formed in a T in its lower portion to receive the ends of the opposite spokes l but allowing of the lower end of the pivot pin passing through to receive a securing nut 59, see Fig. 8. These masts carry at their top vertical flight propellers 18 and 19, the propellers having blades, the blades of one propeller being inclined in a direction opposite to those of the other propeller, al though if desired they maybe inclined in the same direction.

Rotatably mounted at each end of the cage adjacent to the mast in suitable bearings carried by the cage, and having pivot ends similar to those carried by the masts, are

the two'perpendicular shafts 20, 21, the

shaft 21 being immediately in the rear of mast 14 in Fig. 2, and the bevel gearing 22 connects thetcp of each perpendicular shaft with the horizontal shaft so that the horizontal shaft 11 is driven by the perpendicular shaft 20, 21 which horizontal shaft turns fromleft to right. 011 the floor of the cage in the rear portion of same is ailixed a righthand motor 23 of any suitable style which has a two-part driving shaft 24, 25, operating from left to right, the two parts being connected by a universal joint so that the outer portion 25 of this driving shaft may be swung so that the spiral gear 26 carried at its outer end may be meshed with the gear 27 of the vertical mast let turning said gear 27 from right to left to drive said mast 4 lar shaft 21 turning said gear from left to right and turning that portion of the bevel gear on the perpendicular shaft 21 from left to right. so as to drive the horizontal shaft 11 from left to right. Said portion 25 of the driving shaft carries a .collar 29 slidably mounted in a lock-way30 carrying a locking lever, 31 whereby the spiral gear 26 may be held in mesh with the gear 27 or with the gear 28, or in a neutral position midway between the two gears, as shown in Fig. 4. The forward mast 13 and perpendicular shaft 20 are similarly operated by like gears 27, 28- drivenby a like gear 26 of the two part driving shaft 24, 25 having a similar universal joint 26; the method of throwing the gears. in mesh and locking the forward driving shaft so that the gears are held in mesh, or in a neutral position is similar to that shown for the rear driving shaft. A. left-hand motor 32 in the forward portion of the cage operates this forward driving shaft. Ground wheels 56 may be used when desired.

On each side of the cage pivotally mounted on the rod 33 braced by suitable supports 37 are the side wings or aeroplanes 34, 35; each wing preferably consisting of a plurality of leaves lying in different planes and braced by suitable wires and rods 36. In or upon the upper leaf of each wing is pivotally mounted or hinged as at 38 a lid or shutter 39 provided with lifting and lowering means 40 of any suitable design. The hinges 38 of the lids or shutters 39 are toward the front of the machine so that when the shutters are raised the top surface of the shutters is face to the wind as the aero traveler goes forward.

The wings are tilted as desired by a rack and pinion 41 operated by a hand wheel 42 and which rack and pinion may be locked by the pin 43 passing into one of the holes 44 of the rack, after first having passed through the plate 45. The rack is connected by suitable connecting means such as ropes or wires 46 to the forward bar 47 which extends from one of the wings 34 to the opposite wing 35 forward of the cage and above the horizontal shaft and by additional connecting means such as ropes or wires 48 which extend from the bottom of the rack around pulleys 49'at the forward and aft portion of the cage and below the flooring and upward to the rear bar 50; the wires 46 and 48 preferably are connected with the bars 47 50 about half-way of the breadth of each,wing,ibut if desired they may be connected at a point on the bars 47, 5O nearer each other as shown in "Fig. 5. Slack in said rope or wire is taken up by suitable ti htening means 51, which may be aturn-bucile or any other tightening means.

Should the cage be over loaded on one side so as to throw it out of plumb one or both of the shutters can be lifted the desired amount to level the cage and cause the aero traveler to travel in an vupright position.

Should the direction of the wind from the forward propeller or from direction from which it is blowing cause the cage to tilt so that the aero traveler is. out of plumb, then by manipulating the shutters in the wings the cage can be brought to a perpendicular or upright position.

A suitable rudder 52 is attached by hinges 53 to the central rear spoke of thewall of the cage and is swung into the desired position by the hand-operated locking lever Said rudders outer end is strengthened by the guys 55. lVhendesired a canvas tent can be erected near a motor with an opening to admit the exhaust heat to keep it warm. In preparing the floor for supporting heavy weights such as motors or shafting, it is preferable to insert pieces of wood or its substitute between the spokes and have it flush With top and bottom and then bolted -to a board running crosswise on the top and bottom; the same can be applied on the sides for shafting or other uses.

It is to be understood that my invention is 'not limited to the specific details of construction shown in the accompanying drawings, but that said details may be varied" in the practical carrying out of my invention. It is also to be understood that the combinations specifically set forth in the several claims are intended to be separately claimed without limitation to the use in connection therewith of other features and details of construction illustrated.

Having thus fully described the nature,

construction and operation of my invention,

I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

I. In a machine of the character described, a mast, a vertical flight propeller mounted on the mast, a horizontal shaft, a horizontal flight propeller mounted on the shaft, a vertical shaft parallel with the mast and geared to the horizontal shaft, a motor, and means for driving either the mast or the vertical shaft by the motor.-

2. In a machine of the character described, the combination with a car of a shaft extending longitudinally through the car, horizontal flight propellers mounted on the ends of the shaft beyond the fore and aft ends of the car, a vertical shaft within the car geared to the horizontal shaft, a rotatable mast parallel with the vvertical shaft and extending above the car, a vertical flight propeller mounted on the mas a motor, and means for alternately driving from said motor the vertical shaft and mast.

3. In an aero traveler, the combination with a car of rotatable vertical masts at opdependently,

posite ends of the car, vertical-flight propellers mounted on the top of the masts, the propellers having'bl'ades, the blades of one propeller being inclined in a direction opposite to those of the other propeller, a hori-'. zontal shaft, longitudinal-flight propellers mounted on the ends of the horizontal shaft, the propellershaving blades, the blades of one propeller being inclined in the same di, rection as those of the other propeller, vertical shafts, means connecting the vertical shafts and horizontal shaft, driving shafts, a motor for each driving shaft, gears carried by the masts and vertical shafts, and a gear carried by eacli'driving shaft and each one adapted to be thrown intodriving contact with either of the gears adjacent to it and operate either one of the vertical flight-propellers or both of the horizontal-flight propellers. I

4.: An aero traveler comprising a car, a pair of vertical rotatable masts at opposite ends of the car and extending above the car, vertical flight propellers mounted on the top of the masts, the propellers having blades, the blades of one propeller being inclined in a direction opposite to those of the other propeller, mechanisms for driving the masts ina horizontal shaft, longitudinal-flight propellers mounted on the ends of the horizontal shaft, the propellers having blades, the blades of one propeller being inclined in the same direction of those of the other propeller, and means whereby the horizontal shaft may be driven by either or". both of the mast driving mechanisms.

. 5. An aero traveler comprising a car, a pair of vertical rotatable masts at opposite ends of the car, vertical-flight propellers mounted on the masts, the propellers having blades, the blades of one propeller being inclined in a direction opposite to those of the other propeller, mechanisms for rotating the vertical-flight propellers simultaneously in mutually opposing directions, a horizontal shaft, longitudinalflight propellers mounted on the ends of the horizontal shaft,

the propellers having blades, the blades of one propeller being inclined in the same directionas those of the other fpropeller, means whereby the horizontal sha t may be driven by either one of the mast driving mechanisms while the opposite mechanism is driving its respective mast, but each mechanism adapted to drive the horizontal shaft, and wings pivotally mounted on each side of the car. I

6. In a aero traveler, the combination with a car, of a non-rotatable sleeve attached to the top of the car, a rotatable vertical mast passing through the sleeve, a vertical-flight propeller mounted on the mast, a horizontal shaft, longitudinal-flight propellers mounted on the ends of the horizon tal shaft, a vertical shaft, a driving shaft,

\ portion,

gears carriedjby the mast and vertical shaft, a gear carried by the driving shaft and adapted to bethrown into driving contact with either of said gears, and bevel gears connecting the vertical and horizontal shafts. Y

7 In an aero traveler, the combination of a cage comprising a roof portion, a floor a connecting wall portion, all said portions being formed of rods and the whole connected together by TS, a pair of vertical rotatable masts at opposite ends of the cage and extending above the cage, vertical-flight propellers mounted on the masts, the pro: pellers having blades, the blades of one propeller. being inclined in a direction opposite to those of the other propeller, mechanisms for driving the masts independently, a horizontalshaft, longitudinal-flight propellers mounted on the ends of the horizontal shaft, and means whereby the horizontal shaft may be driven by either or both of the mast driving mechanisms.

8. In an aero traveler, the combination with a cage of a shaft extending through the cage, longitudinal-flight propellers mounted on the ends of the said shaft, a vertical shaft within the cage, a gear on the vertical shaft in mesh with a gear on the other shaft, a rotatable mast parallel with the vertical shaft and extending above the cage, a vertical-flight propeller mounted on the mast, means for alternately driving the vertical shaft and mast, aeroplanes movably 'mounted on each side of the car, extending forward and back of the car, provided with central movable shutters, and means for opening and closing said shutters.

9. In a machine of the character de-.

scribed, wings pivotally mounted on each side of the machine and extending fore and aft in the direction of travel of said machine, a lid hinged on the forward top portion. of each wing and extending rearward and normally lying flat on top of the wing, an means for raising and lowering the lid.

10. An aero traveler comprising a cage, a-

horizontal shaft extending through the cage,

non-rotatable sleeves rigldly :afiixed to the fore and aft ends in the direction of travel of said aero traveler and through which sleeves the horizontal shaft passes, longitudinal-fiight propellers mounted'on the ends of the horizontal shaft, vertical masts movably mounted in the frame work of said cage and passing above thereof of said r0 ellers carried b said masts said masts -'being at opposite ends of said cage and on opposite sides of said horizontal shaft, peridicular shafts and horizontal shaft, a drivsleeves carried by the roof and. through which the masts pass, vertical-flight parallel with said 1 ing motor for eachmast, means connecting and lowering said lids, means for tilting each mast with its'motor, means for discon-. the wings, ground wheels adapted to supnecting said driving power from its mast port the body portion of the aero traveler, and connecting it with the perpendicular and means for controlling the rudder.

g 5 shaft whereby the horizontal shaft-is driven, In testimony whereof I aflix my signature 15 a rudder at the aft-end of said cage, wings in presence of two witnesses.

pivotally mounted on each side of the cage w JOHN H. NOLAN. and extending fore and aft in the direction Witnesses: of travel of said. aero traveler, lids pivotally CHARLES F. A. SMITH,

10 mounted in saidwings, means for raising WM. H. MITCHELL. 

